Iran has right to peaceful nuclear work-Iraq

Baghdad, May 26: Iraq said today that Iran had the right to develop a peaceful nuclear programme.

''We respect and confirm the right of the Republic of Iran and the right of any other state to have scientific and technological abilities to research in the field of nuclear energy for peaceful uses,'' Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said during a news conference with his Iranian counterpart.

''We don't want any of our neighbours to have weapons of mass destruction,'' Zebari added.

He was speaking after talks with Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, who arrived in Baghdad earlier today.

Mottaki was also due to meet Iraq's new prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, less than a week after the Shi'ite Islamist formed his US-backed national unity government.

Washington and Tehran are fiercely at odds at the moment over Western accusations that Iran's nuclear power programme is a cover for making weapons.

REUTERS

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